2 Afghan women killed, 3 children injured in US troops operation

According to local authorities in western Herat province of Afghanistan, at least two women were killed and three children were injured following a military operation by US special forces in this province.

The officials further added the operation was conducted in Zer-e-Koh area at Shindand district.

Shindand district chief Abdul Hamid Noor confirming the report said the operation was launched on Monday in a bid to clear the area from the militants activities.

Mr. Noor further added at least two militants commanders were also killed following the operation and two Afghan and US troops were injured.

He said a militant’s wife was also among the two women who were killed during the operation.

In the meantime NATO-led International Security Assistance Force following a statement said, “”On the morning of February 5, Afghan and Coalition forces conducted a partnered operation in Shindand District, Herat Province. The Afghan and Coalition forces received fire from a compound and engaged insurgents in that compound. Our initial assessment is that after the engagement, one Afghan woman and three Afghan children were found dead in a compound separate from where the Afghan and Coalition forces engaged the insurgents. ISAF takes all civilian casualties seriously, and an investigation is on-going to determine exactly what happened in this operation.”